Hinged adapter duct for oven vent

ABSTRACT

An oven has a first vertical vent duct and a second vertical duct that is located above the first duct but horizontally offset therefrom. A horizontal adapter duct joins the first vent duct with the second duct. A combined elevating and hinging means joins the adapter duct to a support plate such that when the second duct is removed the adapter duct may be raised into a generally vertical position. When the adapter duct is lowered it will normally assume its horizontal position joining the first duct with the second duct.

United States Patent [19] Sherman Nov. 12, 1974 4] HINGED ADAPTER DUCT FOR OVEN VENT [75] Inventor: George R. Sherman, Louisville, Ky.

[73] Assignee: General Electric Company,

Louisville, Ky.

[22] Filed: Feb. 4, 1974 [21] Appl. No.: 439,548

[52] US. Cl 126/21 R, 98/115 VM [51] Int. Cl. F24c 15/32, A2lb H00 [58] Field of Search 126/21, 21 A, 273, 19; 98/115 VM, 115 R [56] References Cited UNlTED STATES PATENTS 2,337,349 '12/1943 Rees 126/21 R 3,090,371 5/1963 Davis 4 126/21 A 3,295,508 l/l967 Nelson 126/21 A 3.536.457 10/1970 Henderson 126/21 R X Primary Examiner-Edward G. Favors Attorney. Agent, or Firm-Richard L. Caslin; Francis H. Boos [57] ABSTRACT An oven has a first vertical vent duct and a second vertical duct that is located above the first duct but horizontally offset therefrom. A horizontal adapter duEtl A combined elevating and hinging means joins the adapter duct to a support plate such that when the second duct is removed the adapter duct may be raised into a generally vertical position. When the adapter duct is lowered it will normally assume its horizontal position joining the first duct with the second duct.

5 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures HINGED ADAPTER DUCT FOR OVEN VENT BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention has general utility in the baking oven art, whether it be gas ovens or electric ovens. This invention will be described with relation to a household electric range having lower oven cooking cavity surrounded by an insulating outer cabinet, where there is a horizontal cooktop assembled over the oven. The oven has a first vertical oven vent duct and a second vertical duct in the form of a surface unit assembly located above the first duct but horizontally offset therefrom so that inadvertent spillage into the surface unit assembly will not pour through the first vertical vent duct. Accordingly, an offset adapter duct is employed to join the top end of the first vertical duct and the lower end of the second vertical duct.

In standard ranges this offset adapter duct may be removed for cleaning due to spillage or overflow which may otherwise contaminate the area between the first and second vertical ducts. One disadvantage is that some people have experienced difficulties in being able to reassemble the adapter duct in its proper position once it has been removed for cleaning. This causes some people to discard the adapter duct due to their inability to reassemble this duct in the range. This absence of an adapter duct may cause a safety problem if the oven is a high temperature, pyrolytic, selfcleaning oven where the oven exhaust gases might reach a maximum approaching l,OF., and if these gases are not directed efficiently to the second vertical duct. The absence of the adapter duct might allow the oven exhaust to spread out under the range cooktop and discharge the oven soils and greases onto the electrical wiring that furnishes electrical power to the surface units and oven control devices. Moreover, the cooktop might become overheated and cause inadvertent burns to the hand when touched by a user of the range during the operation of the oven.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide an oven system with an adapter duct that is provided with a combined elevating and hingingmeans so that the adapter duct may be raised for cleaning and will assume its normal position when released.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an oven vent adapter duct with a yoke hinging means so that the adapter duct may be raised when needed, but may not be removed or rendered ineffective.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention, in accordance with one form thereof, relates to an oven vent system having a first vertical vent duct and a second vertical duct located above the first duct, but horizontally offset therefrom. A horizontal adapter duct joins the top portion of the first duct with the bottom portion of the second duct. This adapter duct is provided with a combined elevating and hinging means that fastens the adapter duct to a support surface whereby the second duct may be removed and the adapter duct may be raised into a generally vertical position for cleaning. When the adapter duct is lowered it will assume its normal horizontal operative position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS This invention will be better understood from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and its scope will be pointed out in the appended claims.

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary, side elevational view of an electrical range with parts broken away and some in cross section to show the oven vent system in cooperation with one of the surface units of the cooktop.

FIG. 2 is another view similar to that of FIG. I in the vicinity of the oven vent system showing the surface unit removed and the adapter duct in both an intermediate dotted line position and a vertical full line position where it may be cleaned.

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the adapter duct and its hinge means taken on the line 3-3 of FIG. I.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Turning now to a consideration of the drawings, and in particular to FIG. 1, there is shown a portion of the side of an electric range 10 having an oven cooking cavity 12 that is surrounded by a layer of thermal insulating material 14 such as fiber glass or the like and an outer cabinet structure 16 having a horizontal cooktop 18 at generally counter-height, and in which is mounted an electric surface heating unit 20. Arranged along the back side of the cooktop 18 is a backsplash 22 that is a hollow housing with a front wall 24 that serves as a control panel which incorporates a plurality of control devices (not shown) forcontrolling the heating means (not shown) of the oven 12 and the surface heating units 20 of the cooktop 18, as is well known in this art.

The oven cooking cavity 12 has a vertical oven vent duct 30 near the back of the oven which extends up through the layer of insulation 14, and through an insulation guard 32 which covers the insulation and protects it from spillage from above, as well as tends to contain the insulation and prevent it from shifting and exposing the oven liner. The tip of the vent duct 30 rises above the insulation guard 32 so that if there is any accumulation of spillage on the insulation guard it will not flow into the vent duct 30.

As mentioned earlier there is shown one surface heating unit 20 in the cooktop 18. The standard cooktop is usually furnished with four such surface heating units, but only one is shown here, and this one is the one nearest the oven vent duct 30.

While the present invention does not cover a particular design of surface heating unit 20, a standard design will be described briefly in order to assist in the understanding of the present invention. A typical plug-in surface heating unit is shown in a recent U.S. Pat. No.

3,767,897 to Richard V. Prucha and Teamus Bowling,

which is assigned to the same assignee as is the present invention. It should suffice here to say that the surface heating unit 20 is a metal sheathed electrical resistance heating element of elongated tubular form that is wound in a flat spiral coil to form a utensil supporting surface 34. The terminal ends of the heating element are formed downwardly and then outwardly as at 36 and 37 for making an electrical connection in a power circuit. The spiral coil is supported on an open framework or spider 39 and fastened thereto. The ends of the spider are supported on a decorative trim ring 41 which surrounds the spiral coil. The cooktop 18 is recessed as at 43 to accommodate the surface heating unit 20, and the center of this recess is removed as at 45 for accommodating a reflector pan 47 therein as isseen in FIG. 1. This reflector pan is of slight dished formation with a horizontal peripheral flange 49 around its top edge resting on the ledge of the recess 43 that is formed by the cut-out portion 45. Thus, before'the surface unit is assembled in place the reflector pan 47 isfirst lowered through the cut-out 45, and then the surface unit is installed in the recess 43, with the ends of the spider 39 rested on the flange 49 of the reflector pan. Thus, the surface unit 20 is almost flush with the top surface of the cooktop 18. It should be noticed that the lower portion of the reflector pan 47 is cut-out as at 51, and it is this reflector pan 47 and associated structure that forms the second vertical duct that was mentioned previously as being located above the first vertical duct 30, but horizontally offset therefrom.

The present invention relates to the horizontal adapter duct 55 which is a generally hollow member of rectangular box-like form having a top wall 57, opposite end walls 59 and 60, and opposite side walls 62 and 63 as seen in FIG. 3. It should be understood that the bottom portion of the adapter duct 55 is open. This adapter duct 55 is supported on the insulation guard or support plate 32 to overlie the upper tip of the first vertical vent duct and underlie the bottom portion of the second vertical duct represented by the reflector pan 47. The top wall 57 of the adapter duct 55 is provided with a circular opening 65 that is formed by a raised collar 67 which telescopes slightly into the opening 51 at the lower portion of the reflector pan 47. The nature of the adapter duct 55 described above is generally a standard construction.

The present invention relates to a combined elevating and hinging means 70 which is connected between the support plate or insulation guard 32 and the adapter duct 55. This hinging means 70 is in the form of a wire form yoke 72 as is best seen in FIG. 3 that has a straight bight portion 74 that underlies the adapter duct 55 and is engaged by a holddown clip 76. This clip is attached to the insulation guard 32 by means of a pair of screw fasteners 78 and there is a simple frictional engagement of the clip over the bight portion 74. Extending from the bight portion 74 are a pair of parallel side arms 80 which straddle the adapter duct 55 and are each provided with an inwardly turned finger 82 which is journaled within a suitable opening in the opposite side walls 62 and 63 of the adapter duct 55 to provide a pivotal connection between the yoke 70 and the adapter duct 55. Thus, the combined elevating and hinging means 70 is pivotally connected to the adapter duct 55. The bight portion 74 of the yoke 72 serves as a pivotal axis that generally lies beneath the second vertical duct or reflector pan 47. The other pivotal axis of the yoke 70 is formed by the inwardly turned fingers 82, 82 and this pivotal axis lies on the far side of the first vertical vent duct 30 from the first pivotal axis, as is best seen in FIG. 1. y

In order to clean the adapter duct 55, if spillage has poured over it or because of grease accumulation within the adapter duct 55, it is simply necessary to disassemble the surface unit 20 and remove the reflector pan 47. Then lift the adapter duct 55 until it extends generally vertically through the recessed opening 45 as is shown in full lines in FIG. I. This is a simple maneuver and it places the adapter duct 55 in a position where it may be cleaned readily.

Thus, when a lifting force is exerted on the end of the adapter duct at a point near the end wall this causes the yoke member to pivot about the lower axis or bight portion 74 of the yoke. This causes the adapter duct 55 to swing in an are having as its radius the side arms 72 of the yoke 70, and this allows the end wall 59 to rise above the upper tip of the first vertical duct 30. Further lifting force exerted on the adapter duct 55 will cause the adapter duct to pivot about the second pivotal axis formed by the opposing fingers 82, 82 and the adapter duct will assume a generally vertical position as is shown in full lines in FIG. 2. While one hand holds the adapter duct 55 in this vertical position, the other hand may be used for cleaning the interior of the adapter duct as well as within the range cabinet beneath the cooktop 18 and for the expanse of the insulation guard 32. It should be understood that when the adapter duct 55 is released it will naturally fall into its normal horizontal position shown in FIG. 1. In other words, the hinge means 70 prevents the adapter duct from being fully removed from the range, and it makes it possible to facilitate the partial removal of the adapter duct so that it may be cleaned while it constrains the adapter duct to fall naturally into its operative position when it is released.

Modifications of this invention will occur to those skilled in this art. Therefore, it is to be understood that this invention is not limited to the particular embodiment disclosed but that it is intended to cover all modifications which arewithin the true spirit and scope of this invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new and is desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is:

l. The combination of a first vertical oven vent duct, a generally horizontal support surface adjacent the top of the vent duct, a second vertical duct located above the first duct but horizontally offset therefrom, and a horizontal adapter duct supported from the said support surface and joining the first vertical vent duct and the second vertical duct, the bottom portion of said adapter duct being open, and an offset hinge means connected at one end to the said support surface at a point beneath the second vertical duct and connected at the other end to the adapter duct at a point on the far side of the first vertical vent duct, whereby the adapter duct may be lifted at one end adjacent the second vertical duct which causes the hinge means to swing in an are thereby raising the adapter duct and causing it to extend generally vertically so that it may be cleaned through its open bottom portion.

2. The combination as recited in claim 1 wherein the said offset hinge means is a wire form yoke hinge which straddles the adapter duct and is pivoted at one end to the said support surface and pivoted at its other end to the adapter duct.

3. A high temperature baking oven having an oven cooking cavity surrounded by an insulated outer cabinet, the cooking cavity including a first vertical oven vent duct the cabinet including a horizontal support plate adjacent the top of the vent duct, a second vertical duct located above the first duct but horizontally offset therefrom to serve as an extension of the first duct, an adapter duct resting on the said support plate and joining the first vent duct with the second duct. and a yoke hinge means pivoted at one end to the support plate and at its other end to the adapter duct, whereby when the second duct is removed the adapter duct may be raised to a generally vertical position for cleaning.

4. A high temperature baking oven as recited in claim 3 wherein the said yoke hinge means is pivoted to the support plate along an axis that underlies the second duct, while the other hinge axis of the yoke hinge means lies on the far side of the first duct, whereby when the raised adapter duct is lowered it will automatically assume its normal horizontal position joining the two vertical ducts.

hinge axis with the adapter duct.

l l =l 

1. The combination of a first vertical oven vent duct, a generally horizontal support surface adjacent the top of the vent duct, a second vertical duct located above the first duct but horizontally offset therefrom, and a horizontal adapter duct supported from the said support surface and joining the first vertical vent duct and the second vertical duct, the bottom portion of said adapter duct being open, and an offset hinge means connected at one end to the said support surface at a point beneath the second vertical duct and connected at the other end to the adapter duct at a point on the far side of the first vertical vent duct, whereby the adapter duct may be lifted at one end adjacent the second vertical duct which causes the hinge means to swing in an arc thereby raising the adapter duct and causing it to extend generally vertically so that it may be cleaned through its open bottom portion.
 2. The combination as recited in claim 1 wherein the said offset hinge means is a wire form yoke hinge which straddles the adapter duct and is pivoted at one end to the said support surface and pivoted at its other end to the adapter duct.
 3. A high temperature baking oven having an oven cooking cavity surrounded by an insulated outer cabinet, the cooking cavity including a first vertical oven vent duct, the cabinet including a horizontal support plate adjacent the top of the vent duct, a second vertical duct located above the first duct but horizontally offset therefrom to serve as an extension of the first duct, an adapter duct resting on the said support plate and joining the first vent duct with the second duct, and a yoke hinge means pivoted at one end to the support plate and at its other end to the adapter duct, whereby when the second duct is removed the adapter duct may be raised to a generally vertical position for cleaning.
 4. A high temperature baking oven as recited in claim 3 wherein the said yoke hinge means is pivoted to the support plate along an axis that underlies the second duct, while the other hinge axis of the yoke hinge means lies on the far side of the first duct, whereby when the raised adapter duct is lowered it will automatically assume its normal horizontal position joining the two vertical ducts.
 5. A high temperature baking oven as recited in claim 4 wherein the adapter duct is open along its bottom surface, the said yoke hinge means being of wire form having a bight portion cooperating with a hold-down means as the pivot means to the support plate, the wire form having a pair of spaced ends journaled in the opposite side walls of the adapter duct and serving as the hinge axis with the adapter duct. 